“Wow, this is a nice kitchen. Do you like to cook?” Kay hopped up on one of the barstools at the island.
Eli looked amused at the question. “Not really. It’s more of a necessity than a joy. I just redid the kitchen because I plan on selling the house soon.”
“Oh. You mentioned you were moving back home at Christmas, but I wasn’t sure how soon you were planning to come back.”
“As soon as the house sells.”
He didn’t offer any other information so Kay shifted uncomfortably on her stool.
“Let me show you how the security system works.”
Kay hopped down and followed Eli to a small panel in the living room, next to a hallway. It looked just like the one near the front door. Her arm accidentally brushed up against him and he shifted slightly, bumping against her full breasts. Eli looked pained.
“Sorry. Um, anyway this is where you enter the security code. I’m an early riser, so you won’t have to disarm it most of the time. The only time you should have to worry about it is if you need to get something from the kitchen in the middle of the night. The motion detectors cover the main living area and the kitchen. If you don’t disable the alarm first, you’ll set it off.”
Kay nodded and repeated the code aloud several times. “I really hope I don’t forget it.”
“I’ll quiz you later today to make sure you remember it. Now, let’s get your bags and get you settled in your room.”
Eli retrieved her bags from the entryway and then walked down the hallway that she assumed led to the bedrooms. Kay followed silently, peering into the open door of the first room they passed. It was a nice size. She could put Hope in there. Eli stopped at a door at the end of the hall and opened the door. She followed him into a room with a queen-sized bed, a dresser, and a night table. He set her bags on the floor.
“I’m right across the hall if you need anything.”
Kay turned and stared at the closed door behind her. “Oh, that’s close. Do I get a tour?”
Eli’s lips curled up. “No.” Then he walked out.
Typical Eli.
A soft cry rang out from the front of the house. She trotted back up the hallway and reached her daughter just as she scrunched up her face to let out a full-on wail.
“Let’s get you settled so you can stretch out.” She checked Hope’s diaper and then carried her into the family room. Mrs. Alexander had given them a portable gate system to take along, so a few minutes later she had a sizable section of the room blocked off.
After settling Hope in the middle of the gated area with her teething ring and a set of soft, squishy blocks, Kay looked in the refrigerator. She pushed aside a six-pack of beer and a package of browning celery. “Okay then. I guess I’m not hungry.”
“My assistant is bringing groceries. I asked her to pick up the basics for us. I was expecting her to do it before we arrived.” The doorbell rang. “This should be her now,” Eli said and walked up front.
Kay heard the door open and felt the telltale cold draft of air. She heard the other woman before she saw her, her voice soft and husky as she fussed at Eli about something or other.
When she entered the kitchen, Kay’s heart sank. The other woman was beautiful. Not that she’d expected anything different. Slim with long, toned legs and large breasts, she was exactly the type of woman a man like Eli would go for.
When she looked at Kaylee with assessing eyes, it became clear exactly why she hadn’t delivered the groceries earlier.
“Kay, this is my assistant, Carly. Carly, this is Kaylee Wilhelm.” His phone rang and he snatched it off his belt. “Excuse me for a moment.” Then he disappeared into the front hallway.
Carly didn’t speak, just stood staring at Kaylee. After a few awkward moments, Kay pulled the first grocery bag toward her. It was filled with all the staple items like milk, bread, eggs, and raw ground beef. She’d even purchased snack food. When Kay pulled out the package of chocolate-chip cookies, she decided she didn’t even care that the other woman was obviously lusting after Eli. After all, it wasn’t as if she could fault the girl for her taste.
“Thank you so much for bringing the groceries. It would have been hard for us to go out with the baby.” Kay grabbed a few more items and started stacking things in the empty refrigerator.
“Baby? What baby?” Carly eyed her suspiciously.
Kay pointed to the living room where Hope was standing on her tiptoes, trying to see over the side of the baby gate. “Peek-a, Peek-a!” she squealed when she caught sight of the newcomer.
“She’s trying to say peekaboo, I think. She always does that when she sees someone new.” Kay pulled out the nonperishable items and stored them in the small pantry.
“Oh, well that’s adorable,” Carly admitted grudgingly.
Eli appeared in the doorway then. “Thanks for bringing the food, Carly. Is there anything you need me to sign?”
Carly glanced back at Kay once more before she pulled a sheaf of papers from her tote bag. “Yes, just a few things.”
Eli scanned each page before scrawling his name at the bottom. When he got to the last page, he signed it and handed the whole stack back. “That should do it. Remember, I don’t want anyone at HQ to know I’m back in town. It won’t be for long.”
“Oh? You’re going back home again then?” There was no disguising the disappointment in the other woman’s voice.